1-something "moving-I-should-upgrade" reef

[tlhood]

I recently decided that since I will be moving, and setting up my space in the developed basement, I would seize the opportunity to upgrade my tank.

I currently have an RSM 130D with retrofit LEDs, and a tunze skimmer. While it was great as a first tank (sumps were pretty daunting), I soon found it was quite small and I was pretty limited in how I wanted to set it up.

We don't get into the house until August 31, so I only have a vague idea of dimensions until I can get in there and tape it up in the space. I do know where it is going to go. Since the tank will be in the basement in close proximity to the utility room (rather than being on the second floor in a bedroom), I am going to section off part of the room (which is wonderfully massive) to have an actual space to mix and store water and my RODI system.

The plan so far is to set up a LPS/Softie dominant tank, but will probably have a few SPS. The setup will be something like:

Custom 3 sides starfire
Eurobrace
external overflow on the rear
bean animal
48WX22TX24D (subject to change) I'll upload some Sketchup awesomeness later.
metal stand which I will end up skinning myself
ATO reservoir
Fuge
And sump of unknown dimensions

I've gathered the majority of my equipment from some lovely people in the city (and in Edmonton). Only really have to buy one more light and plumbing gadgetry.

I will be starting with all new rock, probably dry pukani, and new sand.

[maron6977]

Can I make a suggestion : you might want to consider a deeper footprint. After years of looking at other people's tanks , I love it when there is some depth (front to back).
Think about 48x30x24H !!!
Just my 2 cents
Mark

[tlhood]

Actually I was originally planning to do 30 deep (coincidence!), but with the external overflow, I don't want the tank to be too far out into the room.

I will be marking tape for dimensions on the wall/floor once we get into the house - then hopefully I can decide whether I want a length of 48/60 and depth of 24/22/30. I think having a visual of the outline in the space will help (I hope!)

Too many options.

[Coralgurl]

Congrats on the house and good luck with your build!!! If there's anything you need for equipment, let me know as I'm still holding lots of stuff!

Cheers

[tlhood]

Congrats on the house and good luck with your build!!! If there's anything you need for equipment, let me know as I'm still holding lots of stuff!

Cheers

Thanks!

[tlhood]

After waiting 2 months that lasted 5 hundred years, we finally got possession of the new place this morning. Unfortunately, I realized the area I was planning to put the tank has built in speaker doodadthinggymajiggies (and as such that is where the TV will end up) and limits the areas I can work with. I now have two options.

I can put the tank in the main room downstairs, however there is a huge pool table there and I am not really comfortable with pool cues moving around the aquarium. (cringe)

My second option is to put it on the wall perpendicular to where the couch will be in the media room. I wouldn't mind that, however my roommate complains incessantly about the light from the aquarium and would probably continue to do so while watching TV. I suppose I could also put it behind the couch in the media room, but I don't really want to spend that kind of $$ on a beautiful tank and stand only to half hide it behind a couch and have your back to it 99% of the time.

Decisions....

[The Codfather]

I wouldn't mind that, however my roommate complains incessantly about the light from the aquarium and would probably continue to do so while watching TV.

Easy solution...throw roomate out of new house.....just saying....

[tlhood]

Haha if only it were that easy. Many of life's problems would be solved.

[tlhood]

Got into the house super late last night, but managed to snap a few photos of the room I want to put the tank in.

This is the main room that I want to put the tank in. Sorry it is so dark. The entrance to the room is pretty deep and the wall there (far left red box) is a good place, however there is currently a built in there that I would have to tear out - permission required.

The second from the left red box is my second choice, but depends on the furniture in the room and will restrict depth.

Third red box is where the roommate wants it (there will be a huge couch in front of it.) yay outlets, boo it being behind a couch.

Blue circle is where I originally planned to have it, but the sound system set up is making it a no no

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/tabkatz/11892316_10153563840558745_2458870681043400166_o.j pg (http://s6.photobucket.com/user/tabkatz/media/11892316_10153563840558745_2458870681043400166_o.j pg.html)

Second choice spot
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/tabkatz/11879169_10153563840543745_1564964649981034832_o.j pg (http://s6.photobucket.com/user/tabkatz/media/11879169_10153563840543745_1564964649981034832_o.j pg.html)

Behind the couch
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/tabkatz/11951617_10153563840783745_7865072403861024425_o.j pg (http://s6.photobucket.com/user/tabkatz/media/11951617_10153563840783745_7865072403861024425_o.j pg.html)

Super awesome paint skills - throwing ideas around for a scape.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/tabkatz/reef2.jpg (http://s6.photobucket.com/user/tabkatz/media/reef2.jpg.html)

[tlhood]

One of the reasons I wanted to upgrade my tank was because I feel that my current take doesn't provide enough separation between territories and I have had some aggression issues (I am pretty sure it is from my clowns).

For a while there my poor firefish was being beat up pretty bad. I thought it was from my sapphire damsel, but when I put up a make shift egg crate barrier to split the tank (my damsel, my clown goby, and my watchman can all fit through), the firefish has been fine. The only guys that cant fit through are the clowns. Big bullies.

So, basically I want to try my best to ensure there are enough hidy holes and space for everyone to stake out their territories happily.

Current critters:
1 firefish
1 clown goby
1 sapphire damsel
1 watchman goby
2 black ocellaris clowns

What I would like to add:
1 Bartlett's Anthias
1 Barnacle Blenny
2 Bangai Cardinal
1 Carpenter Wrasse
1 Eibl angel
3 black axil chromis

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Eiblii angels are real hit or miss in terms of being coral safe. One of my favourites though in terms of looks.

[maron6977]

Behind the couch , might be a pain to do maintenance .

[tlhood]

Behind the couch , might be a pain to do maintenance .

Agreed.

I'm leaning towards one of the side walls.

[tlhood]

While I still haven't decided where to put the tank, it isn't as high on my list at the moment because of some issues with the plumbing in the utility room. Said issues can be seen here (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=115763)

Long story short.
1) plumbing is not copper or pvc but PEX therefore I can't use a clamp
2) plumbing is a mess and needs to be redone
3) RODI is under the bathroom sink, exactly where I did not want it.

Solution - we're hiring a plumber to come in and fix the disaster that is in the utility room, and while he is at it were going to get him to T off for the RODI. Yay more $$ spent.

[WarDog]

It's too bad I'm so far away. I happily would have done all that for some donuts and a double double.

[tlhood]

It's too bad I'm so far away. I happily would have done all that for some donuts and a double double.

Awe thanks.

[tlhood]

Tomorrow is the big day. I will be moving my tank from my old house to the new. I am currently getting some rodi water ready at the new house in case I need it. Tank will be set up in the utility room as I will be using it as a qt when the new one comes in.

My bathroom is full of buckets and fish stuff. Cannot wait to get the plumber in Thursday so I can move everything into the utility room.

Also going to start taping off the walls in the media room to figure out which place is the best.

Slowly but surely the glitches are working out.

[tlhood]

7 hours later and the tank is finally moved.

Remind me to never move a tank ever again. My poor fish were in a 5 gallon pail with a heater and air stone for a few hours, and I was pretty sure someone was going to die.

While in transit one of the bags got a hole in it and leaked all over (spiney snail to blame for that) and I thought the back of the tank blew a seal.

But finally everything is set up enough to get everything running, everyone is in the tank and swimming around, and we will see if there are any casualties in the morning!

[tlhood]

Managed to take some time from unpacking and taped up some outlines in the media room. Approx dimensions are 48LX22HX 30 from the wall.

I am debating whether or not I should go with an internal or external overflow, which may affect the depth of the tank.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/tabkatz/IMG_8842.jpg (http://s6.photobucket.com/user/tabkatz/media/IMG_8842.jpg.html)

[tlhood]

Hehe - I find my most productive tank planning occurs while I am at work...


There were a few problems with my original design (external overflow, 30" deep).
1) The tank would be way too far out from the wall, and would throw off the balance of the room.
2) I reallllly wanted the extra depth to the tank.
3) The extra depth would force me to put the tank into the media room as all our other doors are abnormally narrow, so the tank would have to sit at the back behind the couch (mad face)
4) I want the inside of the display to look as clean as possible - so I wanted to avoid an internal overflow box.

The solutionnnnnn
1) Suck it up and put in an internal overflow and drill that bad boy through the bottom.
2) Make the overflow a corner overflow, put the returns on the other corner, and at least have the center at 30"
3) Yay the tank can sit where I want it to in the media room.
4) I was planning to have my aqua scape come out from the corners anyways so they will hide a large portion of the overflow.

yay magic!

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Highly recommend you make tank taller than 22" unless its already made or in the process of being built. The extra few inches would give your corals room to grow upwards before they hit the surface and its also nice to have room above the corals and aquascaping for the fish to swim. Just saying:wink:

[tlhood]

But I have short stubby arms and can't reach... :cry:

[maron6977]

For internal overflow : consider this
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/maron6977/Mobile%20Uploads/8A3A2DB9-5027-462D-A670-5AE927D65269_zpsdhrmulsx.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/maron6977/media/Mobile%20Uploads/8A3A2DB9-5027-462D-A670-5AE927D65269_zpsdhrmulsx.jpg.html)
Was quite happy how it turned out & good flow around tank with angled corners!
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/maron6977/Mobile%20Uploads/68D74858-4A8B-45A6-8615-1DC4D5EDAFF4_zpsaguahcw8.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/maron6977/media/Mobile%20Uploads/68D74858-4A8B-45A6-8615-1DC4D5EDAFF4_zpsaguahcw8.jpg.html)

[maron6977]

Oh, I put the bends in it for 2 reasons :
Structural strength
Smallest overflow I could make & still get bulkheads in & out

Plus once water & rock are in it , it's a little deceiving & don't even notice the overflow.

[tlhood]

Oh, I put the bends in it for 2 reasons :
Structural strength
Smallest overflow I could make & still get bulkheads in & out

Plus once water & rock are in it , it's a little deceiving & don't even notice the overflow.

That is exactly how I have it drawn out (with the bends on the sides).

I thought it looked sleek, and it took up a bit less space.

I have the overflow (with 3 pipes because I want to try to squeeze a bean animal in there) on the back left, I have it sketched out to be about 7 inches along both sides of the glass. I have a smaller one on the right side of the tank for the return, which I am hoping will help make sure there are no icky spots on the surface.

[tlhood]

I am debating on whether or not I should pre-order the Kessil AP700 panel, or if I should go with two 360we pendants. I already have one, but could probably sell it pretty easily.

I like the pendants because they would take a minimal amount of space above the tank. I won't have a canopy on top and would like to keep it as clean looking as possible. However I would have to buy another light and wouldn't have the full light spectrum and snazzy wifi awesomeness.

[tlhood]

Bit of an update...

Project is currently at a stand still. With my current contract deadline coming up and an extension up in the air, I decided it would be smart to wait until I find out what's going to happen before diving into getting the tank built.

Also, we have found a dog that we would like to adopt, and if we do get him the tank will probably be postponed until the spring.

Right now the specs for the tank are

48X30X22
Starfire
Eurobraced
Left corner overflow
Right corner return
Bean animal
Kessil a360we tuna blue X2
Bubble king something something
Reefkeeper controller
sump
ATO
Fuge

Steel stand. I will probably end up skinning it myself.

LPS/Softie dominated, some sps and will be moving my RBTA over

Yellow Watchman Goby
Clown Goby
Firefish
Sapphire Damsel
Clowns X2 (might get rid of these...)
One spot foxface
A few Black Axil Chromis
Carpenter Flasher wrasse
Bartlets Anthias (maybe?)
Purple Pincushion urchin (maybe)